Iran cyberspace council votes to lift ban on WhatsApp: reports
The Hindu
Iran lifts ban on WhatsApp after two years, sparking debate among officials and lawmakers over internet restrictions.
Iran's top council responsible for safeguarding the internet voted on Tuesday (December 24, 2024) to lift a ban on the popular messaging application WhatsApp, which has been subject to restrictions for over two years, state media reported.
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"The ban on WhatsApp and Google Play was removed by unanimous vote of the members of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace," the official IRNA news agency said.
The council is headed by the President and its members include the parliament speaker, the head of the judiciary and several ministers.
"Today, we took the first step towards lifting internet restrictions with unanimity and consensus," Minister of Communications Sattar Hashemi said on X.
It was not immediately clear when the decision would come into force. The move has sparked a debate in Iran, with critics of the restrictions arguing the controls were costly for the country.
"The restrictions have achieved nothing but anger and added costs to people's lives," presidential adviser Ali Rabiei said on X Tuesday.
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